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Dallas Wings guard Skylar Diggins (4) reacts to a call during the third quarter of their game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at the University of Texas at Arlington's College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

Diggins tore her ACL last season and made her return from the injury in the Wings' win over San Antonio last month. That appearance was more ceremonial than anything as Diggins wanted to participate in the team's home debut in Dallas.

She scored just two points in that game and failed to make a field goal before she sat out the next four games to complete her recovery.

Saturday's version of Diggins was closer to the one that averaged 20.1 points per game and was named to the All-Star game in 2014. After she entered the game to a loud round of applause, Diggins was unafraid to shoot her jumper or create contact to force a foul. She played her brand of pestering defense and found ways to get her teammates involved.

All told, Diggins finished with 13 points on six field goal attempts with three steals in 18 minutes on the floor.

Not that Diggins was the best version of herself yet. She turned the ball over six times and had two assists. Known for her ability to drive to the rim and create scoring opportunities for herself and teammates, Diggins' first step was not quick enough to get past her defender.

"Who knows what that really is," Diggins said when asked how close she is to 100 percent. "For me, I just want to be productive and to contribute. Obviously it's going to take in-game minutes to get the rhythm back."

Still, any percentage of Diggins is a boost to Dallas. It just wasn't enough to overcome the Sparks, who at 9-0 are one of two remaining undefeated teams in the WNBA.

The Wings did a good job containing Los Angeles' superstar Candace Parker, who collected six points and six assists before she left the game with an injury to her nose with 9:34 left in the fourth quarter. It was Parker's teammates who caused problems for Dallas.

Former No. 1 pick Nneka Ogwumike made all 12 of her shots from the field and all seven free throw attempts, finishing with 32 points and 10 rebounds. The Sparks' transition attack moved too quickly for the Wings to catch up. That same speed closed down Dallas' passing lanes and forced 12 of the Wings' 21 turnovers.

"We have to lick our wounds and get up and practice," Diggins said. "For us it's just about continuing to come together, continuing to learn each other now that we're all back."

So was Dallas ready to compete with one of the two best teams in the league? No, but Diggins' return puts the Wings one step closer to whole.